In an exciting finale to their regular season at the Scotiabank Centre, the Halifax Mooseheads secured a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over the Cape Breton Eagles. The game was especially significant as it marked the celebration of the graduating players in front of a lively crowd of 9,000 fans. The standout performer of the night was overager Samuel Rousseau, who notched two goals, ensuring a memorable close to the Mooseheads' home campaign.
The contest began with neither team able to find the net during the first period, which remained scoreless. However, the Mooseheads faced an early setback in the second period when Shawn Carrier was ejected just 51 seconds in. Carrier received a major penalty for checking to the head following a hit on Lewis Gendron, leaving Halifax to contend with a significant loss as they approached the game’s halfway point.
Halifax managed to break the deadlock at 3:06 of the second period during a powerplay situation. Samuel Rousseau displayed his skill by deftly tipping a shot from Owen Phillips, sending the puck through the pads of Cape Breton goaltender Connor Towle and into the back of the net. The Eagles responded with late-game pressure, as Lucas Romeo redirected a shot from Brady Flynn through Halifax's goalie, Owen Bresson, with only eight seconds left in the period. This goal tied the game, setting the stage for an exciting third period.
The Eagles took their first lead of the night at 8:04 of the third period, thanks to a remarkable play by Hugo Charron, who delivered a spinning pass to Aiden McCullough. McCullough capitalized on the opportunity, putting the puck past Bresson effortlessly. Nevertheless, the Mooseheads quickly retaliated, as Rousseau found himself on a breakaway after receiving a breakout pass from Brenden Espenell at the 11:20 mark. Although Towle made the initial stop, Rousseau showcased determination by knocking in his own rebound to bring Halifax back to even terms, forcing the game into overtime.
Overtime saw no scoring from either side, leading to a shootout to determine the winner. In the shootout, Liam Kilfoil scored for the Mooseheads, putting pressure on Towle, while Bresson successfully stopped Raoul Boilard's attempt for the Eagles. With the final save secured, the Mooseheads celebrated their narrow shootout victory.
This exciting win improved Halifax's season record to 26 wins, 27 losses, 3 overtime losses, and 3 shootout losses. In recognition of their performances, Rousseau was named the first star of the game for his two-goal effort, while fellow overager Connor MacPherson earned the second star. Towle's impressive performance, highlighted by 36 saves, earned him the third star distinction.
Looking ahead, the Mooseheads are scheduled to return to action on Sunday, March 8, traveling to Cape Breton for their final clash of the season against the Eagles at Centre 200. Puck drop for this anticipated matchup is set for 3 p.m., with live coverage available on 95.7 NewsRadio, hosted by Garreth MacDonald.
